Life is Strange: Episode 2 - Out of Time

 PC
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. RPG Fan
    Mar 29, 2015
    74
    A Telltale-esque title set in suburban America that hints at maturity.
  2. IGN Spain
    Mar 25, 2015
    73
    Even with Maxine's story taking form and the drama getting more intense, with a great moment in the ending, Dontnod's project still needs to reflect about its characters and plot to achieve greatness.
  3. Multiplayer.it
    Apr 7, 2015
    70
    Just when it seems to wander aimlessly out of the road, Out of Time gets everything together and pulls out some memorable narrative sequences. Every minor decision counts, in the end.
  5. IGN
    Mar 25, 2015
    70
    The ramifications of my actions in Life is Strange: Episode 2 - Out of Time have more than earned my interest in the rest of the season, even if it means enduring the inconsistent character performances and awkward writing.
  6. Game Informer
    Mar 23, 2015
    65
    Characters and circumstances need be more natural and plausible for me to buy into this world. So much is too overblown.

Awards & Rankings

93
#93 Best PC Game of 2015

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 243 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 207 out of 243
  2. Mixed: 24 out of 243
  3. Negative: 12 out of 243
  1. icarus42
    Mar 26, 2015
    10
    This is the first review I've ever written, so bear with me.

    This game is, quite honestly, one of the best games that I have ever played.    This is the first review I've ever written, so bear with me.

    This game is, quite honestly, one of the best games that I have ever played. Before I get into the review I just wanted to say, though, that it's very possible you've heard something about the social justice undertones in this series. I can confirm these. On multiple occasions the protagonist mutters phrases like "wow, I should volunteer for [save the bay effort]", or have hints that the best friend wouldn't use hair products with animals in it, or that guns should only be for women, etc. The protagonist herself is very reminiscent of a hipster, for a number of reasons too.

    Even will all of this, I can still say that the story is one of the best I think I have ever experienced. Throughout the day you make large and small decisions - never quite knowing if you made the right one. This creates some great self-narrative. The protagonist will mutter to herself "oh wow, that was really bad. I should probably change what I said" which makes the narrative really immersive, since you have to make decisions but still have control over the consequences you'll get since you can change what you said. This dynamic is really very cool. I'd really hate to spoil anything about the story, and since you definitely should have played he first episode you should know what you're getting yourself into anyways. Suffice to say the story is really amazing, and that every decision you make matters in the end.

    Onto the dialogue. It was pretty poor. There were some moments where a line was delivered and I felt bad for whoever had to voice-act it. It was just so simplistic at some points. I can't exactly put it into words. Also, the banter is compeletely out of touch. I heard the word selfie over and over and over again I just couldn't get it out of my head. Writers- please stop it. Nobody takes selfies all the time. Nobody uses a camera as old as the protagonist does. Nobody in california, where I live, uses the word "brah" unironically. Stop sterotyping your characters. Not everybody is a) a cheerleader/athlete b) a jock c) a geek d) a skater. That's just not how cultural dynamics are anymore, and also saying that bullies are a serious issue is a cliche too. I feel like, when I am playing the game, I am playing an anime or the sims. I really wish that the less serious moments weren't just guided by these cliches.

    The graphics are decent. The optimization could be improved, though (I could run this game max settings at about x2 MSAA at ~45 FPS, but on Battlefield 3 I get a full 60 on ultra...) The game does not look anywhere as good as BF3, of course. Still, if you have a nice machine this should be no problem. Everything looks strikingly like the sims, I have to say. That can be a good or a bad thing.

    So it should really speak volumes that I still love this game - every bad element can be overlooked easily. There are flaws, sure. But the serious issues that are confronted during the story and the way that you can effectively set up the ending you want throughout is just amazing. So to everybody reading this, I would say go buy the full series. It is a story you won't want to miss out on. To the devs... well.. don't mess this up now! I have faith in you, just don't end up finishing out a great series like mass effect 3. You really have something going right now.

    Who cares about this review anyways. You should start with the first episode, hopefully this review just tells you to go out and get this one too, and the rest of the series! Full price is absolutely worth it. You can pirate the first episode first too as a demo, too, if that's your cup of tea. But these devs do deserve your money.

    And before I go, one last thing. I think it was really cool that the devs put in elements that not necessarily every player was going to see. That sort of thing is dying out, but these guys really went the extra mile. I'll say it's something similar to how GTA has it's electric cars switch from gas to electric depending on your speed- it builds immersion but almost nobody'll know that. That attention to detail is just amazing.    … Full Review »
  2. rodericrinehart
    Mar 26, 2015
    9
    I have throughly enjoyed this game and I think they have really one-upped all of the Tellale cannon.

    I want to see so many more games like    I have throughly enjoyed this game and I think they have really one-upped all of the Tellale cannon.

    I want to see so many more games like this. I could play 10 or more of these per year. I also want more female protagonists and regular settings with light sci-fi.    … Full Review »
  3. Steeldude
    Mar 27, 2015
    9
    If you have played the first episode, you should know what to expect. A continuation of Max's story, a girl that has the ability to reverseIf you have played the first episode, you should know what to expect. A continuation of Max's story, a girl that has the ability to reverse time. This time you'll spend some time with Chloe and then you'll go back to school to be the witnesses to some unexpected events. This episode took me around 5.5 hours to finish 100% (talking to everyone, inspecting everything, getting all photos - in total, that's 1 hour longer than episode 1), the story gets darker and you finally get to see that your decisions from the first episode matter.
    Basically, this episode is the ideal sequel to the first episode. I can only say: Way to go!
    I can't wait to play Episode 3.
    If you like story-driven games in general, you should give this episodic series a shot.    … Full Review »
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